They are now being hunted, not so good, but if the population gets too large, what other choice is there?
A dilemma.
An excerpt.
Pa. allows deer bait for hunts in region
The Game Commission approved the practice to help suburban hunters lure prey to safer areas.
By Don Sapatkin, Inquirer Staff Writer
The Pennsylvania Game Commission yesterday legalized the use of bait to hunt deer in five southeastern counties, part of its strategy to reduce conflicts between deer and people by creating more access for hunters.
The measure will take effect Dec. 26, after the main statewide hunting seasons but in time for late seasons that have been added over the years largely to target deer in densely populated areas. Baiting will be allowed only on private land.
More than a dozen other states, including New Jersey and Maryland, have recently loosened or repealed bans on baiting in suburban areas, where safety limits where hunters can shoot. By placing bait, hunters are able - at least in theory - to lure deer where they can be safely killed.
The prohibitions often were placed on the books many decades ago as part of the "fair chase" credo developed by early conservationists trying to bring back wildlife nearly wiped out by market hunting and other perils. In Pennsylvania, baiting remains illegal everywhere except the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia.
While allowing baiting to kill deer, the commission is urging municipalities to ban feeding intended simply to attract deer. Feeding increases a problem that many towns are trying to reduce - often with opposition from citizens who oppose using lethal force.
Yesterday in East Goshen, supervisors introduced a limited version of a plan to shoot deer on township-owned open space. The proposal had drawn 10 times the usual turnout to previous meetings, and the supervisors voted, 4-1, last night to kill the deer cull.
